Rotary engine.



Wl s. FERGUSON.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16, 1908.

Patented July 6, 1999. 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Mv 12 KW ZI u attocnaua Y W. s. rERGUsoN.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MRJG, 1908.

Patented' July 6, 1909.

` 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WwW/1522322 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE'.

WILLIAM S. FERGUSON, OF LEESVILLE, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOJAMES BEDFORD STERNS, OF VERNON PARISH, LOUISIANA.

ROTARY ENGINE.

i I Ihis invention has reterenee to improvenents in rotary engines, andits ohieet'is to provide an engine ot this type wherein the rotorcarries a sliding vane or piston and the steam course is so related tothe rotor and sliding piston that no valves are needed to lcontrol thesteam.

The invention comprises a stationary meinher composed of a cylindricaleasing with.

heads secured thereto and so shaped on their contiguous faces as totorni asteam course `generally sinuous througl'iout its length hut withwalls so spaced as to receive between theiii an. annular rotary ineniherof constant width throughout its length. The annularniember carries aninnher ot sliding,r pistons mounted therein to move across the rotor'parallel to the axis thereof in conformity to the sinuousities of thesteam course. By properly locating inlet and exhaust openings the steamis made to act upon the s iding piston first on one side ol the rotorand lthen on the other side thereof in a manner to drive the rotoralways in the saine direction. Provision is alsofniade l'or the reversalol' the direction of rotation of the rotor hy other properly locatediniet and exhaiist openings for the steam so that the latter will engagethe pistons on the laces remote from those Yfirst engaged, thus iinnpeiling the rotor in a direction contrary to that in which it'ivas firstconsidered. I

The slidingr piston is inade up ot' a nuniher ol separately inovahleplates or laininai so constructed as to always present a practicallysteam tight junction with the walls of the steain course without theneeessitv of any` special type ollv packing. i

lhe invention will he hest understood hy reference to the ti'illowingdetail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingsorn'iing a part of this speci'lieation,

in whiehf ,ligure 1 is a side elevation, partly in seetion, ot theimproved rotary engine. Fig. is a displiiyed plan ol' the steam courseto an extent diagramma!ieally represented. Fig.

Specification of Letters Patent.

` Application filed March 16, 1908.

Patented .my e, 1909.

Serial No. 421,351.

3 is a vertical section of the engine in a dia metric plane coincidentwith the longitudinal axis ol the power'shatt. Figs. 4 and 5 are detailviews, and Fig. 6 is a displayed View in diagram ol' a modified form ofthe steam course. Y

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a cylindrical casing 1 eastWith or secured to a hase 2. This casing receives at the ends two'channel heads 3, 4, each formed on the inner tace with an annularflange 5, the parts being so proportioned that when the heads and 4 aresecured to the easing 1, as hy bolts 6, the flanges 55 have their freeedges close to each other hut separated for a certain space. This spaceextends eiitirelyaronnd the cir cuinlerence 'ot' the inner face of thetwo heads Sand 4, which latter, together With the easu ing 1, constitutethe stator of the machine. On each side olE the casingare suitablepedestals 7-7 termed at their upper ends with journal boxes 8 for thereception of a shaft 9. 'This shaft has secured to it the hub 10 of adisk 1 l extending through the space formed hy the separated free endsof the flanges 5.

Each head 3 and 4, as measured in the di# reetion ol the lengt-h of theshaft l), is for a poi-tion of its length comparatively thin, asindicated at 12, and for the remainder of its length ciiinparativelythick, as indicated at 11%, in. the structure indicated in Fig. 2. Thethin portion 12 and thick portion 18 each occupy ziihout one-halt thelengthV of the head eiieuinl'erentially and are joined hy easy curves 14and 1 Fi. The heads areso related that the portion 13 et one head isopposite the portion 12 ofthe other head, this forming a steam. course15 entirely around the stator. A certain part of the steam courseindicated hy the .spaee between the longitudinal dotted lines ot thediaphragm of Fig. 2 is of even Width thronghoutmne dotted line beingeoincident with the thicker portion 13 of the `head 3 and the otherdotted line with the thicker portion 13 ol the head 4 so that on oneside of the space defined hy sue-h dotted lilies there is a tree space1li extending eireunderentially ot the steain course e0ineident withthethiekerportions13 of the heads. 'lhe disk or web 1.1, carries withinthe steam course an annular ineinher 17 completely filling the steamcourse in a radial direction and in Width coincidingr with the space hetween the longitudinal dotted lin'es ol Fig. 2.

two members, and these members are This annular member of the rotor isarranged to 'ht snugly and yet easlly between the heads 3 and fi Withinthe space between the thicker' portions 13 so thatithese thickerportions become fixed abutments between which the rotor revolves. Atequidistant points about the annular' member 17, say at four equidistantpoints as shown in Fig. 1, are lateral passages 1S extending entirelythrough the annulus 1.7 and in r .lia-l extent equal to the radialthickness of the steam course. Within these passages are sliding yanesor pistons made up oi a. number' otplates 1t), 2l) and 21, each oiwhichr has a special function, as will presently appear.

The plates or laminar are in the particular instance shown substantiallyrectangular in outline so as to coi'itorm to the particular type ofsteam iizourse altliough lor other shapes of steam course these platesmight be otherwise shaped in outline. The length ol each of these platesis equal. to the distance between the facing ralle of the heads i3 a' dIl defining the steam course, which distance is constant throughout thelength ol the steam course,

rlhe plates 1t) have rounded edges 22 Where they bear against the innerwalls lol' the heads 3 and Lt and may lit these walls snugly yet easily.rl`he plates 2() are made up ol' l wo members between thc contiguousends ol' which is housed a spring 23 shown as a simple bow spring, butmay be any type ol' spring adapteiil to the purpose. ilu spring isdesigned to spread apart the two memi-,ers ol4v the plates 2t) so thattheir outer edges may always be kep t in lirm contact with the walls olthe heads 3 and 1, the. tendency ol the spring being (o separate the twomembers ol' each plate 2() in the same direction as the longitudinalaxis of the shaft t). The outer end ot' each member of the plate 2() ismade square, indicated at 24, instead ol rounded, as are the plates 1).The plate 21 has its edges engaging the side walls of the steam courserounded, as indicated at 25, like the rounded edges 22 of the. plates1). 'l`his plate, however, is split longitudinally into urged in adirection radial to the, rotor by a spring 2b so that thel edges ol'tl'ie two members ol (he plaie 21 engage the outer and inner nalls ol'the steam course. ily this means the sliding Vane or piston is held inlirm engagement with all the Walls ol' the steam course and theconnection thus made is practimlly steam tight.

Flanking the disk or web 11 on cach side ol' the same adjacent to the.point ol' entrance ot' the webare rings 27 secured to the llanges 5 bysuitable bolts 28. These rings are l'ormed with annular grooves 2) oneach of which is a packing ring -3() urged toward the side walls olI theweb 1l by set screws 31 between Which and the packing is interposed asuitable ring 32.

rThrough the thickened portion 153 ol the head 3 are steam passages 33and 34 opening into the curved Wall 15 near its point ol merging intothe straight portion of the thickened part 13. On the remoter sides olthe steam inlet passages and 34 are exhaust ports 35 and at points stillmore remote are other cX- haust ports 36. Each exhaust port 35 and 3G isconnected imo a common exhaust passage 237. Extending through the likethickened portions ol the head 4 are steam passages 3S, 3l). and exhaustports 4l), 41 merging into a common exhaust pipe 42 bearing.

the same relation to the head l as the other steam inlet and exhaustports bear to the head 3. 'ihese several ports are connected up togetherexterior to thc stator by suitable steam pipes 43 under the control ol asuitable valve 44 and the exhaust passages are coupled up to the pipes45 under the control ol' suitable valves 4b.

.liet it be assumed that the rotor is moving toward the right, as viewedin Fig. 2. Under these eircuinstances, the. steam passage 39 and exhaustpassages 41 and 42 are open. Also the steam passage 34 and exhaust ports55 and 3() are open or acting. Suppose that' the sliding piston berepresented by a single plate 2() in Fig. 2. 'l`he steam enteringthrough the pipe 3S) will he brought into contact with this plate 2(),but because the end ol the plate is square and its angle is in contactwith thc crn'respomling wall of the steam course there is lol-med asubstantially steam tight connection wi th no tendency t o lo rcc thisplate inwardly since the live steam cannot get around the end ol theplate and so tend to compress the spring 23. The live steam thereforeexerts a. pressure upon the plate 2() temling to drive the rotor towardthe right, as viewed in Fig. 2. 'l`he chamber on the ac tive side ol theplate 2() constantly increases because this plate is moving laterallyinto the part 16 ol the steam course lormed in the head 4 and the volumeof steam acting on this plate is constantly increasing. As soon as thestraight portion of the thick part 13 oi the plate 3 is reached, thenthe lateral Inovement oi' the plate 2() ceases, while the onwardmovement the rotor continues. Ultimately, the exhaust port 41 isreached, and the steam exhausts therethrough but 1n the mean timeanother piston has reached and passed the steam inlet 3) so that thesteam on the active side of the plate 20 after the second sliding pistonhas reached the steam inle Sit), acts cxpansively. Any steamwhieh may bcin iront of the plate 2() finds its Way out of the exhaust port 4l. Asthe plate 20 is moved in the reverse direction by the curve 15 adjacentto the steam ports 4() and 4l, and aller leaving the port 4() this plateObserved that there is an intermediate or.

has been projected on the other side of the steam course Where steamentering through the steam pipe 34- Will act upon it in the same manneras already described for the steam entering through the steam pipe 239.ln this way each end of the plate receives the active impulse of thesteam during one revolution ofthe rotor.

While the foregoing description, especially with reference to theoperation ofthe apparatus as described Withrelation to Fig. 2, has takenaccount of only one plate 20, it is to be central plate 1 flanked oneach sid e by a plate 20, and. each plate 20 has next to it two plates19. These last plates are provided for the purpose of suitablystrengthening the sliding piston against which the entire loree ofthesteam is exerted.

Attention has been called to the fact that one angle of the end of eachplate 20 is adjacent to the activeer steam side of the plate when thelatter is moving toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 2. lf, now, thedirection of the rotor be reversed by changing the relation ofthe steaminlet and exhaust ports by a suitable manipulation of the valves 44 and46, then the plates 20 moving toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, andthe steam inlet pipes 433 and 38 becoming active, the engaging angle ofthese plates to the Walls of the steam course is still adjacent to theactive or steam side of the plates. Thus, under ne` circumstances is t1ere danger of `steam getting on the ends ofthe plates and socompressing the springs 23 and permitting the steam to escape by theplates.

lt will be observed that the effective width of the steam course isconsiderabl greater than the Width ofthe annular mem )er of the rotorand is arranged alternately on opposite sides of this annular memberWhile the slid ing vanes or pistons are in length equal to the widthofthe steam course and slide through the annular member so as to becomealternately effective on each side of the latter, the direction ofmovement of the pistons being parallel to the axis of the rotary member.

In Fig. 6, it is to be observed that the median section l5 ol the steamcourse does not merge directly into the lateral extension 1'6 butapproaches the same by a lateral extension 47 of less Width than themember 16 so that steam engaging a piston entering the lateral extension47 would expand when reaching the main section 16.

What is claimed is t Il. A rotary engine provided With alsteam coursehaving theside walls curved at intervals to and from the longitudinalplane of the steam course, a movable vane or piston. composed of aseries of plates or laminze in contact` one with the other, and a rotarymember in which the piston vis mounted and ,entirely l' across which itextends in a direction parallel With the axis ol' rotation of the saidrotary member: with the plates of the said vane or piston independentlymovable in the direction of their lengt-h, the said vane or pistonbeing-active at each end in alternation.

2. In. a rotary engine provided with a steani course having the'sidewalls curved at intervals to and from the longitudinal plane of thesteam course/Lo .ivano or piston made up of'plates in yieldingengagement with the vWalls of the steam course ol the engine, and

other lates oit fixed length. in direct contact with t 1e yieldingplates, all the plates being independently movable with relation to eachother, and the plates of'constant length being exterior to the yieldingplates and ol a length equal to the Width of the steam course.

3. In a rotary engine, a stator provided with a steam course havinglateral sinuosi ties, a rotor provided With an annular member housed inthe steam course and in engage-Y. ment with the side Walls thereof at'their points of closest approach to the median line, and vanes orpistons'slidable laterally through and to each side ol the movablemember Within the steam course, said vanes or pistons 'being made up ofa number of in dependently movable plates or lamin and active at eachend in alternation.

il. ln a rotary engine, `a stator provided with a steam course havinglateral sinuosities, a rotor provided With an annular member housed inthe steam course and in engagement with the side Walls thereof at theirpoints of closest approach to the median line, and vanes or pistonsslidable laterally through and to each side ol' the movable memberWithin the steam course, said vanes or pistons being made up of a numberof independcntly movable plates or laminas, active ones ol the plateshaving both ends con-v stituting engaging ends in. contact with the sidewalls of the steam 'course at an angle to the curved portions thereof'.

5. In a rotary engine provided with a steam course, a sliding vane orpiston made up ot' plates yieldable in a direction lateral to the lengthol the steam course, and plates of :fixed length, all the plates beingadapted to contact directly at both ends with the Walls ol the steamcourse, all ol said plates being in. side contact and independentlymovable.

In a rotary engine provided. With' a steam course, a sliding vane orpiston .made up of plates yieldable at right angles to each other andlateral to the length ot' the steam course, and other plates of fixedwidth and length, all ol' said plates being adapted to contact at bothends directly with the Walls ol the st am course, and all ofrsaid platesbeing movable independently one oc therother.

'7. ln a rotary engine provided with a 'sten/1n course, :i Slidinf'fvano or igton made, t:

i l l with runnisu :n' :in anglo thermo. l

l). i'nlniy vngino Onnnnisiing :i Stn-Anil vnnnmsvd nll :i drinn,nmmsing limdx liliud l to Suid drinn und lmincd with laterally thick undthin pni'l'inns :n'nnigcd t0 form n, sinuous linnn minas@ nl' wnstnntwidth` a rotor haw ing' :1n :innnlnr nnnllm' housed in Said Stciftmwinst* und engaging' Ythe m lls 0lE the thicker poi'tinns nl' the. hond,und lzite'iilly sliding vanos oi' pint ons (finiied by the annularmenilwi nl thv mtni' :ind inm'ztliln across the snm@ inln ronstnntrng'iigoniont with opposite will@ nl tho. steam murs@ throughout thelvngth thm-vnl, smid *ln-nits m' pistons being with minpomd nl i serios0f independently innviilili"platina including' planes in yieldable niKilmglil- (mntzivt with theI walls nlI the steinn minlnv :ind nhoi plaies0l l'ixd length and vwidth.'

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